High impact of genetic drift on the isolated population of Rab Island – evidence from mitochondrial DNA diversity

摘要: The Croatian Island of Rab is situated in the Northern Adriatic Sea. Evidence human presence are seen from Neolithic period and ever since this has been inhabitated by many ethnically different populations. After Illyrians Romans, one most genetically historically important periods was arrivals Slavic tribes 8th until 10th century. Here we present evidence high impact genetic drift on diversity structure contemporary Islanders. Analysis mitochondrial DNA haplogroups 163 autochthonous inhabitants 5 settlements revealed relatively level haplogroup haplotype overall sample due to dynamic gene flow throughout history. On other hand, only four (H6, HV, J1c U4) encompass more than half total maternal pool Island. Even so, every fourth Islander particular U4d2 haplogroup. This so far frequent finding reported any population (24.5 %). One possible explanation such deviation average European frequency could be several epidemics plague 15th 16th century when a vast majority died, some cases almost 90 % were devastated. results study gave insight into microevolutionary processes that shaped current northern